I'm Jacky Hieu Lee, health screening coordinator at Bình An. Hepatitis B is a leading cause of liver cancer — and Vietnamese Americans are the most heavily affected group. Today Jacky Hieu Lee wants you to understand why, and why a simple blood test can save your life.
The concerning data: Community-based studies estimate the chronic hepatitis B infection rate among U.S. Vietnamese adults at about 8.8% to 13.8% — compared to just 0.36% in the general U.S. population and 3.37% among non-Hispanic Asians overall (per the 2011–2016 NHANES survey). An analysis of 55 community screening programs found the average HBsAg-positive rate among Vietnamese was 9.7% — the highest of the three Asian groups surveyed (compared to 8.0% among Chinese and 5.7% among Korean). That means roughly 1 in 10 Vietnamese adults carries the virus.
More concerning: Vietnamese men have the highest liver cancer incidence of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. — 54.3 per 100,000, according to the CDC. And per the CDC, about two-thirds of foreign-born people living with hepatitis B don't know they have it. That means many people in our community are living with a cancer-causing virus without any idea.
The good news: early screening clearly works. A randomized controlled trial showed that liver cancer screening in people carrying the virus can reduce liver cancer mortality by up to 37%. And the cost is very low — a blood test runs about $30, or a vaccine series about $60, compared to hundreds of thousands of dollars for late-stage treatment. Jacky Hieu Lee wants you tested before it's too late.
Who should be screened? Under the CDC's expanded 2023 recommendation, every U.S. adult should be tested for hepatitis B at least once in their lifetime. It is especially important for: (1) every Vietnamese adult, especially those born in Vietnam before 1990 when the vaccine was not widely available; (2) anyone never vaccinated against hepatitis B; (3) anyone with a family member who has hepatitis B — because the virus passes from mother to child and through blood; (4) pregnant women. A simple blood test (HBsAg and anti-HBc) is all it takes to know your status.
If you test positive — you carry the virus: Don't panic. Hepatitis B is now well-controlled with medication (antivirals such as tenofovir or entecavir), which significantly lowers liver cancer risk. A doctor will monitor you regularly — liver ultrasound and blood tests every 6 months — to catch liver cancer early if it develops. Jacky Hieu Lee helps connect you with a Vietnamese-speaking doctor and reminds you of follow-up appointments.
If you test negative and have no immunity: You need the vaccine — three shots over 6 months. Jacky Hieu Lee helps you get vaccinated free or low-cost through our community medical partner network. This is the longest-lasting way to protect yourself and your family.
If your results show you cleared a past infection (anti-HBs positive): You have natural immunity — no vaccine needed. But still get periodic checks if you have risk factors.
Bình An helps you book hepatitis B, diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol screening with a Vietnamese-speaking doctor — and provides transportation if you have no car. Most of it is fully covered by Medi-Cal; if you don't yet have Medi-Cal, Jacky Hieu Lee helps you enroll first (see my Medi-Cal enrollment guide).
One thing Jacky Hieu Lee often sees: many Vietnamese people hesitate to get tested because they fear knowing the result. I want you to hear this: knowing is always better than not knowing. If you carry the virus, early treatment helps you live longer and healthier. If you don't carry it, you get peace of mind and a vaccine to protect yourself. There is no scenario where 'not knowing' is better.
One drop of blood, one test, can save your life. Call Jacky Hieu Lee today to schedule a screening — we will walk with you from booking to results, in Vietnamese.